Tag: Verbal Delirium

2022 Progradar’s Best Of The Year – John Wenlock-Smith’s Top 20

Yesterday saw the editor’s top twenty albums of 2022, today we see what made respected contributor John Wenlock-Smith’s list….

John says, “It’s been a great year for music, especially prog, with many fine releases from established and also newer acts. Here are twenty that really struck a chord with me, in no particular order but all worthy of inspection and consideration.”

D’VIRGILIO, MORSE, JENNINGS – TROIKA

In which well known prog aficionados beguile us with their inner CSN&Y. It’s all acoustically in the main but a very strong collection of songs that must warrant a second visit – here’s hoping so at least!

Hats of Gentlemen It’s Adequate – The Confidence Trick 

A wonderful and diverse set of songs around the concept that we are being led by arrogant fools whose overconfidence is actually severely dangerous, examples being Trump, Johnson and, more recently, Liz Truss whose overconfidence nearly destroyed any chance of economic growth.

Stuckfish – Days of Innocence 

A simply marvellous album that impressed many with its thoughtful lyrics and excellent music.

SiX By SiX – Self Titled

A bit of Saga, a bit of Saxon, add Robert Berry’s muscular bass and you have a blistering rock album with very progressive elements and leanings. Again this one impressed greatly.

Kaipa – Urskog

The long established Swedish folk-proggers delivered a truly graceful album with several epics and more than a touch of vintage Yes, a great set of songs.

Derek Sherinian – Vortex 

In which the ex-Dream Theater keyboard man delivers a captivating, electric set of tracks supported by several big name friends including Steve Stevens, Nuno Bettencourt, Bumblefoot and Joe Bonamassa, to name a few. Blistering in parts and excellent overall.

The Mighty Ra – All Secrets Known 

A new band of mainly Welsh prog musicians who began writing together with this rather fine album being the result. An excellent new album with great promise.

Verbal Delirium – Conundrum

This was new to me but what a find! A very classy album with a great vocalist, strong songs and great playing from all, definitely one to discover.

Arc Of Life – Don’t Look Down

The second album from Yes spin off Arc of Life. Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood delivering the album that Yes maybe should have. Epics like Real Time World and Arc of Life were standout tracks in an album of importance and strength.

The Bardic Depths – Promises Of Hope

Literature loving progressive band deliver a fine second album about suicide via a fictional tale of a suicidal queen whose death is prevented by the Gods. Enthralling and with many guests in tow.

Tribe of Names – Evolver 

Evolutionary album from ex-Tinyfish man Simon Godfrey & colleagues that sees them stretching their legs musically. There’s a welcome strong Rush influence throughout and its a superb album overall. 

Phi Yaan Zek – Interdimensional Garden Party

This very strange but satisfying album occupies a realm the sadly departed and much missed Frank Zappa would have graced with its blend of instrumentals and strong songs. Wonderful weirdness is obligatory with such stunning tracks as Wickety Wickety being enough to make anyone smile. A seriously good album that warrants investigation.

John Holden – Kintsugi 

John lives close to me and he delivers a strong fourth album of various pieces with a stellar assembly of guests, a highly varied and ultimately satisfying and enjoyable album.

Pattern Seeking Animals – Only Passing Through

This is the third album from Spock’s Beard writer and contributor John Boegehold. With excellent support from existing members of the band, strong songs and catchy hooks abound.

Red Bazar- Inverted Reality 

Another unexpected pleasure with a harder edged sound and excellent vocals from Peter Jones, this was very welcome indeed.

Dave Brons – Return to Arda 

Simply divine and beautifully melodic Celtic-tinged music from Dave Brons and friends with a concentration on melody with moments of shredding brilliance. Totally sublime and utterly captivating. 

Ghost Of The Machine – Scissorgames

A triumphant debut from ex-This Winter Machine men who, along with sublime vocalist Charlie Bramald, fuse melody and muscle in a devastating combination. Truly awesome, well received by many and rightly so too!

Clive Mitten – Tales From A Misspent Youth Volume 1

Entirely orchestral versions of songs that inspired Clive whilst growing up. His take on key songs from Pink Floyd, Genesis, Supertramp and Rush really are a must to hear. How he brings out hitherto hidden beauties to much loved pieces is gorgeous.

Evership – The Uncrowned King Act 2

The final part of the tale is a sobering statement of intent from fine US proggers Evership and the additional vocals from Saga’s Michael Sadler impress greatly.

David Longdon – Door One

Posthumously released after David’s unexpected death in 2021, this telling collection reveals his continued evolution as a writer and, whilst short, this bittersweet album reminds us of of the great man we lost last year.

So, there you have it, that’s it for 2022 from John and myself, see you on the other side…

Review – Verbal Delirium – Conundrum- by John Wenlock-Smith

Verbal Delirium are a Greek progressive rock band who formed in 2006. They have released four albums to date ‘The Imprisoned Words of Fear’ (2016), ‘From The Small Hours Of Weakness’ (2013) and ‘So Close And Yet So Far Away’ (2010), with ‘Conundrum’ being the latest, and second with Bad Elephant Music. This release is definitely interesting, mixing heavier elements with articulate vocals and sounds to create great music. This is my first exposure to the band and here are my thoughts on the album.

The album has eight tracks which vary in length and in style, ranging from brief vignettes like Falling with its Saga like sounds, especially in the vocals by Jargon, through to epic pieces like The Watcher and Neon Eye Cage, which are both over nine minutes in duration. Musically the sounds range from semi-choral to Beatles-like parts, elements of prime Queen through to jazzy inspired sections with saxophone and clarinet and violin and epic, partially ambient, soundscapes all tied together with a solid rock beat and groove. All this together makes for a unique and satisfying listening experience. The team of Jargon on vocals, George Pagidas on bass, Stratos Morianos on keyboards, Vasilis Armaos on drums and George Kyriakidis on guitar are a sensationally tight and focused unit who together bring this great music to life.

This jazzy element is most clearly espoused in title track Conundrum which really has a bounce and a spring in its step. Likewise, The Watcher also impresses with its use of Hammond Organ to swell the sound along with its Saga like vocals and the fiery guitar of George Kyriakidis, whose playing enlivens and grabs the attention throughout the track. The song is epic in style with a growing intensity that runs through the track. It’s a song you need to hear for yourself as it really makes a statement for the band, showing their dexterity in the composition and their skills to realise the piece. It really is a slow burner of a track but certainly impresses me, as does Neon Eye Cage, which opens with gentle electric piano and a graceful vocal from Jargon sounding not unlike Mika on this section. The song gains both pace and power with a unique guitar and keyboards exchange taking the song forward. I really like this sound, it’s different and fresh sounding, adding great dynamics to an already intriguing sound palette, there is also a fine guitar break at the six minute point which I find very melodious. This ends with strong bass and keyboards before resuming again to reach greater heights with more doubled guitar lines moving to the piano to take us to the end. The return of the electric piano tones and even more ‘Mikaesque’ vocals conclude this most fascinating piece.

Fall From Grace is the album’s last track, this reintroduces the Saga like vocals over graceful piano lines and orchestrations before a sturdy drumbeat begins. This song is a slower paced track but it has a strong melody and is very impressive sounding with another scorching guitar break lifting the track significantly. The guitar is very expressive and striking with lots of space and time allowed for it to soar as the song plays, it is all rather fine really. The vocalist Jargon is fabulous on this album and his vocals are both clear and strong with great phrasing and articulation and these really do make an impression.

I would say this album is rather fine indeed and is a grower that warrants attention and one that really is deserving of a wider audience. The prog world can be very insular at times and its fans can sadly be closed to great new music. Hopefully they will discover that which can be heard on this very rewarding album. I was certainly taken with it and can recommend it to open minded music lovers, it is highly impressive and deeply rewarding.

Released 25th November, 2022.

Order from bandcamp here:

Conundrum | verbal delirium (bandcamp.com)

Verbal Delirium Vocalist Jargon to Release First Solo Album – The Fading Thought

The Fading Thought”  is the title of the debut solo album of Jargon, founder of Verbal Delirium. The album will be released this May on vinyl and digital format. The music combines elements of classical and cinematic music with progressive rock.

The arrangement of the string quartet was carried out by Nikitas Kissonas (Methexis), the drums were played by the drummer of Verbal Delirium, Wil Bow, while bass, production, mixing and mastering were handled by Leronidas Petropoulos. In the song How can I? Lupe (Mosquito) participates on vocals.

The artwork of the album was done by Dimitris Tzortis (Immensa Artis).

The album will soon be on pre-sale from bandcamp.com

TRACKLIST:

  1. The Film (05:33)
  2. In Search Of the Invisible Thin Line (04:53)
  3. Dance of the Framed Words (02:38)
  4. The Fading Thought (07:17)
  5. Light (03:54)
  6. Time Is Running Out (06:54)
  7. How Can I? (06:22)
  8. The Last Temptation (07:10)
  9. Window to the World (04:54)

TOTAL RUNNING TIME:  47:35

Mike Morton Announces Dates And Line-up For Resonate, The Follow-up To 2014’s Resonance Festival

The Gift’s Mike Morton has announced the dates and the majority of the line-up for 2018’s 2-day Resonate, the follow up to the Resonance Festival, an ambitious but ultimately rewarding 4 day musical extravaganza staged in 2014.

Taking place at the O2 Academy Islington on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September next years, Resonate will see some of the leading lights of the progressive music scene join forces with acts from wider musical genres to deliver an outstanding two days of live music.

About the festival Mike says:

“Resonate (2018) will bring together a diverse group of acts, from progressive to hard rock with steampunk in between! Tickets will officially go on sale from October 31st, at which time the proper ticket link will be published. Also, our Sunday headliner had been confirmed…but they have asked us not to announce them until New Year’s Day!  Suffice to say they will be another jewel in the crown of this 2 day event. We’ll keep you updated.”

Saturdays Line-up will see Konchordat on stage at 1pm followed by Verbal Delirium, Comedy of Errors, Son of Man, The Gift and headliners Lifesigns.

Sunday opens at the same time with the Tom Slatter Band, Hekz, Jump, Credo, the John Hackett Band and the mystery headline act, a world class progressive-metal act, to be confirmed.

Ticket prices are £25 per day advance or £30 on the door and £40 advance for the weekend or £45 on the door.

Tickets will be available, from October 31st, from:

www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academyislington